Jasmine Paolini won the Dubai Championships, defeating qualifier Anna Kalinskaya 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, on Saturday. Jasmine Paolini, ranked 26th, came back from a break down in the second and third sets to win her second WTA singles title and first at the 1000 level.
Paolini, 28, avenged her fourth-round loss to Kalinskaya a month ago at the Australian Open, and her triumph on Saturday ensures a top-20 debut when the rankings are updated Monday. “It’s so special; I’m really happy and really surprised-I don’t know what to say,” an emotional, smiling Paolini said on the court after securing her career’s biggest win. Also read: Oscar-Winning Director Asif Kapadia to direct Prime Video doc on Roger Federer
“I’m just happy that I believed I could win every match,” Paolini said. “I remember my first match this week. It was second set, I’d lost the first and was a break down, yet now I’m here winning the title. It’s unbelievable.”
Kalinskaya advanced through qualifying, defeating three top-10 players in a row, including No. 1 Iga Swiatek, to reach the final. The 40th-ranked Kalinskaya, the first qualifier to reach the Dubai final, defeated No. 9 Jelena Ostapenko, No. 3 Coco Gauff, and Swiatek. Swiatek suffered his first straight-set loss in over a year. Also read: Andy Murray Vows ‘I won’t quit’ After Winless Start To 2024